So rufen Sie Pakistan aus Großbritannien an

The dial string is `+92` followed by the Pakistani number with the leading `0` dropped. Karachi landlines start `+92 21`, Lahore `+92 42`, Islamabad `+92 51`. Pakistani mobiles are 10 digits starting `3` after the country code. The toll-free `0800` numbers a Pakistani bank or government office publishes for domestic callers will not connect from the UK.

The dial string

To call Pakistan from the UK, dial:

• ›`+92 {city or mobile prefix} {number}`, or
• ›`00 92 {city or mobile prefix} {number}` from a UK landline.

Drop the leading `0` from the Pakistani number. A Karachi landline printed as `(021) 111-222-333` becomes `+92 21 111 222 333`. A Telenor Pakistan mobile printed as `0345 123 4567` becomes `+92 345 123 4567`.

Mobile vs landline

Pakistani mobile numbers are 10 digits starting `3`. The leading mobile-network prefix tells you the carrier (Jazz: `300/301/302`, Telenor: `345/346/347`, Zong: `310-316`, Ufone: `330-337`). The carrier identity matters because some operators have stricter VoIP-termination rules than others; calls to Jazz mobiles complete more reliably than calls to Zong mobiles on most international routes.

Pakistani landlines vary by city. The trunk code is 2 digits for the four largest cities (Karachi `21`, Lahore `42`, Islamabad `51`, Faisalabad `41`), 3 digits for tier-2 cities (Peshawar `91`, Quetta `81`, Multan `61`). The subscriber number is 6-8 digits depending on the local exchange.

Pakistan does not bill the receiver for incoming international calls.

What it costs

Four realistic routes for a UK→Pakistan call in 2026:

• ›UK mobile international add-on. Pakistan is excluded from EE's and Vodafone UK's standard international plans. Per-minute pay-as-you-go rates without an add-on sit at £1.20, £1.80/min to Pakistani mobiles.
• ›Pre-paid international calling card. Diaspora-targeted cards advertise rates from 3p/min to Pakistan. The advertised rates apply only to landlines in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad; mobiles and tier-2 cities can be 5-10x more. Connection fees push the effective short-call rate higher.
• ›VoIP app-to-phone. Skype's successor (Microsoft Teams Phone) and Viber Out terminate to Pakistani mobiles at around £0.06/min. WhatsApp is not a reliable substitute on this corridor, see below.
• ›Browser-to-phone via WorldDial. £0.039/min to Pakistani mobiles, £0.029/min to landlines, billed per second.

For diaspora callers making weekly check-in calls to family in Pakistan, the per-second-billed browser route beats both the carrier add-on and most calling cards once the call exceeds 2 minutes. For long calls (>30 min), a pre-paid card with a published landline rate to Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad can be the cheapest option if the recipient is on a landline.

Toll-free numbers from this corridor

Pakistani toll-free numbers start `0800` (or `111` for "Universal Access Numbers" which are not free). Both are domestic only and will not connect from the UK. The Pakistani called party is billed by their local toll-free provider; that billing relationship does not extend internationally.

Major Pakistani banks publish a separate international helpline alongside the `0800` domestic line. HBL's international card-services number is `+92 21 111 222 425`; UBL publishes `+92 21 111 825 888`; Meezan Bank `+92 21 111 331 331`. These are paid lines from your side; the bank does not pay for incoming international calls.

Best calling windows

Pakistan Standard Time is UTC+5. UK time is UTC+0 (winter) or UTC+1 (BST, summer). Pakistan runs 5 hours ahead of UK in winter, 4 hours ahead in summer.

The best window for reaching a human on a Pakistani bank or government helpline is `09:30-11:30 PKT`, the first two hours after office open, before the post-prayer queue surge. In UK time that is `04:30-06:30` GMT or `05:30-07:30` BST. Set an alarm.

The windows to avoid: `13:00-14:30 PKT` (Zuhr prayer break), `17:00-18:30 PKT` (Asr break and end-of-day rush). During Ramadan, official working hours shift to roughly `09:00-14:00` with reduced staff after midday; weekend hours become more limited.

Pitfalls specific to this corridor

• ›Disconnected landlines without notice. Pakistani landline numbers, especially in Karachi and Lahore neighbourhoods served by PTCL legacy copper, have been disconnected without public notice since 2024 as PTCL accelerates copper-to-fibre migration. If a published landline rings out, search the institution's website for an updated mobile number before assuming it's a busy signal.
• ›PTA gateway routing variability. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority licenses Long Distance and International (LDI) operators that terminate inbound international traffic. Calls placed at the same time of day to the same Pakistani mobile can route through different LDIs and produce noticeably different audio quality, latency, and even disconnect behaviour. If a call drops mid-conversation, the second redial typically routes via a different gateway and survives longer.
• ›Mobile-OTP requirements for bank password resets. Pakistani banks have moved aggressively to 2FA via SMS to a registered Pakistani mobile number. Calling HBL or UBL from the UK to reset a password will work up to the verification step; the agent will then offer to send an OTP to the registered Pakistani mobile. If that SIM is no longer active, the agent cannot complete the reset by phone, you will be directed to a branch visit.
• ›WhatsApp calling is throttled during politically sensitive periods. Several Pakistani ISPs throttle WhatsApp voice calls at the network layer during protests, election periods, and security events. If you need to reach a phone number that is not on WhatsApp, the throttling matters because your only fallback is the PSTN route.

Quick checklist

• ›Have the destination number in international format: `+92` followed by 10 digits, leading `0` dropped.
• ›Identify whether the number is a mobile or landline; mobile-route audio quality varies by carrier.
• ›Pick a window that hits Pakistani office hours: aim for 09:30-11:30 PKT (04:30-06:30 UK winter).
• ›Have any reference number, CNIC last 4 digits, and your registered Pakistani-mobile OTP ready.
• ›Use a per-minute paid route; the `0800` and `111` numbers will not connect.

FAQs

What is the international dialing code for Pakistan?

`+92`. From the UK, dial `+92` or `00 92`, then the Pakistani number with the leading `0` dropped.

Can I dial Pakistani 0800 toll-free numbers from the UK?

No. Pakistani `0800` toll-free numbers are domestic-only and will not connect from a UK number. Banks and government offices that advertise an `0800` line also publish a separate paid international number, usually a Karachi or Islamabad landline (`+92 21 …` or `+92 51 …`).

What's the cheapest way to call Pakistan from the UK?

For calls under 30 minutes, a per-second-billed browser-to-phone service at around £0.039/min beats both the carrier add-on (£1.20, £1.80/min) and most calling cards once you account for connection fees. For long calls to landlines in Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad, a pre-paid card with a published landline rate can be cheaper.

Why does my call to a Pakistani landline ring out?

Most likely the landline has been disconnected. PTCL has accelerated its copper-to-fibre migration since 2024 and disconnects legacy landlines without public notice. Check the institution's website or social-media account for an updated mobile contact number.

Will WhatsApp work for my Pakistan call?

WhatsApp voice calls are throttled at the network layer by several Pakistani ISPs during politically sensitive periods. Even when available, the recipient must be on WhatsApp, most banks, government offices, and tier-2 institutions in Pakistan are not. For those, only the PSTN route works.